and he packed a picnic with wine, cheeses, fruit and crackers. Then they made love on the boat after the sun went down. It sounds magical, and I couldn’t be happier for her.
“I hate to say it…” I sigh.
She arches a brow as she watches me. “He’s a little more romantic than his father and I don’t know if I hate you or what?”
She gasps, leaning forward. “You mean fucking in the filing room isn’t the height of romance?”
We both burst out into a fit of giggles. I don’t tell her that Landry doesn’t need to shower me with romance, because he does a ton of different things, a million times a day to show me that he is thinking of me and he cares for me.
“We’re going to go and look at his new house today. I mean, I’ve seen it, but he’s had painters there and he said he was going to have some other work done. Supposedly, they’re finished. I’m kind of excited to see it all.”
“I haven’t asked how dating has been going with having Holden. You know if you ever need a babysitter, I’ll come over any time you want.”
I shake my head and give her a smile. “Maybe, but…”
“I know, I know, you don’t like to leave him when you only get evenings and weekends with him as it is.”
Nodding, I take a bite of my croissant sandwich and chew slowly. I resist the urge to tell her that unless I’m with her, or Landry is having lunch with his children, we spend our lunches together—in his penthouse, alone.
Then after work, he comes home with me and we have dinner together almost every night. It’s nothing short of a dream and I really hope that it never ends. I want to stay just like this, always.
Bethie and I finish eating, and I pay for the meal with my work credit card. A slice of pain slides through my belly at the thought of this not being our normal anymore. When the divorce is final, the buyout will be too.
I know that Landry says he’s working on keeping all of his employees, his, and that he has a plan, but I can’t help but think that something is going to change. I don’t want the change. I don’t think anything good will come from a change in his company’s dynamic, selfishly because I love it just as it is.
We walk together and make idle chitchat as we make our way into the building. I make my way over to her counter, she asks me what I’m going to do this weekend and I roll my eyes, because I know that she knows the answer.
Before I can say anything, there is a presence next to me. Turning my head to the side, I smile over at Laurent. He’s watching me and not trying to hide it from Bethie. Frowning, I look down at the counter, then lift my gaze back up to meet his.
“You make him really happy,” he says, after clearing his throat.
Pressing my lips together, I chew on my bottom lip to keep from hugging him, crying, or something equally awkward and weird.
“He makes me really happy,” I rasp.
Laurent leans forward, his eyes never leaving mine and his lips twitch before they turn up into a warm smile. “I should not be okay with any of this. You’re younger than Lucinda and it’s weird, but maybe not so much.”
“Maybe not so much?” I ask.
He grunts, dipping his chin. “If I thought you were some money-hungry bitch, I would definitely have something to say. But I’ve kept a pulse on you, on your situation and I have to admit, I don’t think that you are. I think that you truly care for him.”
My fingers itch to touch him, to wrap around his forearm and promise him that I do truly care for Landry, but I don’t. Instead, I jerk my chin up slightly, my lips curving into a smile.
“I truly do care for him. More than I thought I could possibly care for another human that isn’t Holden. If he were penniless, it wouldn’t bother me,” I say with a shrug.
His eyes widen, then he lets out a bark of laughter. “I would fucking care,” he says. “I think you’re good people, Tenny. Just be careful, yeah?”
Before I can ask why I should be careful, he turns to Bethie and starts talking to her, clearly finished with me. Leaving them alone, I make my way